Poland has begun two days of national mourning following the deadly shooting in Kraków, as residents of the historic city honour the victims with candles, prayers and an extraordinary interruption of one of its oldest traditions.
The famous trumpet call from St Mary’s Basilica, which normally sounds every hour above Kraków’s Main Market Square, fell silent for 12 hours in tribute to the six people killed in Saturday’s attack.
The melody resumed on Sunday morning, but its temporary suspension became one of the most striking symbols of mourning in a city whose historic centre is recognised around the world.
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Across Poland, flags have been lowered to half-mast, public events have been cancelled or adapted, and residents have gathered to remember those who lost their lives.
Poland declares two days of national mourning
President Karol Nawrocki signed a regulation introducing national mourning on Sunday, 8 November, and Monday, 9 November.
According to the president’s official announcement and the published regulation, Polish national flags are to be flown at half-mast, particularly at government buildings, public institutions and local authority premises.
Television and radio broadcasters, as well as newspaper publishers, are also required to take account of the national period of remembrance.
The decree was signed on Saturday evening following the shooting in Kraków’s Main Market Square, where six people were killed and numerous others wounded.
The national mourning period is intended to honour the victims and express solidarity with their families and those injured.
Kraków has introduced additional measures extending beyond the national arrangements.
Kraków extends mourning until 11 November
Kraków Mayor Łukasz Gibała has declared four days of municipal mourning, running from Sunday, 8 November, until Wednesday, 11 November, inclusive.
Under the city government’s official announcement, flags on municipal buildings have been lowered or decorated with black mourning ribbons.
The ribbons have also appeared on the city’s trams and buses.
Events organised by Kraków City Hall, municipal institutions and city-owned companies have been cancelled for the mourning period. Other organisers have been asked to limit entertainment activities out of respect for those affected.
The mayor expressed his sympathy for the victims’ families, describing the tragedy as a profound loss shared by the entire city.
The city’s decision means Kraków’s municipal mourning period will continue through Poland’s Independence Day on 11 November.
St Mary’s trumpet call falls silent for the first time since 1939
Perhaps the most symbolic tribute came from St Mary’s Basilica, whose distinctive hourly trumpet call is one of Kraków’s most recognisable traditions.
Known in Polish as the Hejnał Mariacki, the melody is performed from the basilica’s tower overlooking the Main Market Square.
For generations, the call has formed part of the city’s daily rhythm, sounding every hour and traditionally ending abruptly in the middle of a phrase.
Following Saturday’s shooting, the melody was suspended at 9pm and remained silent throughout the night.
According to Polish Radio’s report citing Małopolska fire service spokesman Hubert Ciepły, it was the first such interruption since 1939, the year Nazi Germany invaded Poland.
The trumpet call resumed at 9am on Sunday, 8 November, after a 12-hour suspension.
Its silence was particularly poignant because the shooting occurred in the square directly below the basilica, a place normally filled with tourists, residents and the sounds of everyday city life.
The suspension was temporary, not a permanent change to the tradition.
Candles, flowers and prayers for the victims
As Kraków began mourning, residents and visitors placed flowers and candles near the scene of the shooting.
The Main Market Square, which had been partially cordoned off during the police investigation, became a place where people could quietly pay their respects.
International news agency Associated Press described mourners gathering in the historic centre, while Polish authorities appealed for solidarity with the families of those killed and injured.
A special Mass for the victims and their loved ones was celebrated at 4pm on Sunday by Cardinal Grzegorz Ryś, the Archbishop of Kraków.
Although the service was initially announced for St Mary’s Basilica, the city government subsequently confirmed that it took place at St Anne’s Collegiate Church.
The Mass offered an opportunity for residents to come together in remembrance of those killed and in support of the injured and their families.
Kraków has also opened an online book of condolences, allowing people to leave messages of sympathy and remembrance.
Silent march planned for Monday evening
The city has announced a further public act of remembrance for Monday, 9 November.
Mayor Gibała has invited residents and visitors to take part in a silent march honouring the shooting victims.
According to the official invitation published by Kraków City Hall, participants are to gather at 8pm at the corner of the Main Market Square and Sławkowska Street.
The march is intended to provide an opportunity for the city’s community to express solidarity with those affected by the tragedy.
The event will take place on the final day of Poland’s national mourning period, although Kraków’s municipal mourning arrangements will continue until Wednesday.
A tragedy felt beyond Kraków
The attack has had an impact far beyond the city itself.
The victims included foreign nationals, among them a British citizen, underscoring the international character of a city visited by millions of people from around the world.
The Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs acknowledged messages of sympathy arriving from abroad, including expressions of solidarity from foreign ministers and visitors familiar with Kraków’s historic square.
The ministry also urged the public to avoid speculation and disinformation while investigators establish the circumstances of the attack.
Police and prosecutors continue to investigate the shooting, with a separate examination of three deaths discovered at the suspected attacker’s family home.
The latest developments in that investigation are covered in Poland-24’s continuing report on the Kraków shooting.
For now, Kraków’s focus is on remembrance.
The return of the hourly trumpet call marks a resumption of one of the city’s most familiar sounds, but flags at half-mast, cancelled public events and the candles left in the square remain visible reminders of the tragedy.
As Poland observes national mourning, Kraków is preparing to gather once again — this time in silence — to remember the lives lost.
